Trap.



Patented Sept. 3, |90I.

No. algsl.

0. HUFFMAN.

TRAP.

(Application led May 11, 1901.*

(No Model.)

NESSES a [N VEN T 0R Atiormg/ -Tns wams PETERS ca PnoToLl'rNu.,wAsHmuToN, u. c,

Uien STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO HUFFMAN, OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TI-IIRDS y TOHENRY FISI-IBACK AND WILLIAM BOSW'ORTH, OF SAME PLACE.

TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N O. 681,791, datedSeptember 3, 1901. Application filed May 11, 1901. Serial No. 59,755.(No model.)

T @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO HUFFMAN, a resident of Beatrice, in thecounty of Gage and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Traps; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

xo My invention relates to an improvement in traps, and moreparticularly to traps for small animals-such as rats, mice, and thelike-the object of the invention being to provide an improved trap whichwill be reset by an en- :f trapped animal passing from one compartmentinto another.

Vith this object in View the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts,

2o as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top view, and Figs. 3 and 4 are views insection.

1 represents the outer wall or casing of the trap, which is rectangularin general shape and composed, preferably, of woven wire or wire-nettingof a mesh sufficiently small and 3o strong to prevent the escape of anentrapped animal.V The casing 1 is divided by a vertical partition 2into an entrance-chamber 3 and a cage 4, whose communication with theentrance-chamber is normally closed by a 3; spring-pressed door 13, aswill be more fully hereinafter explained. The entrance-chamber 3 isprovided with an inlet-opening at one end thereof, closed by a door 6,hinged at its upper edge and adapted when closed to fit 4o into adoor-frame G and prevent possibility of outward movement thereof. Abait-receptacle 7 is secured to the partition 2 at the inner end ofentrance-chamber 3 and is composed of sheet metal open at its sideadjacent .i5 to the partition and the entrance-chamber and at its topfor the admission of the bait, which opening may be closed by a cover orany other approved means. In the entrancechamber 3 beside thebait-receptacle a plat- 5o form 9 is located and secured at one edge toa rod or shaft 8, supported in bearings 8i* in the base or bottom of thechamber. The rod 8 is bent at one edge of the platform and eX- tendsupward and forward, forming a trigger 9a, which latter is looselysupported in a guide- 5 5 bracket 10, secured to and projecting inwardfrom one side of the en trance-chamber to permit of slight upwardmovement of the trigger' when engaged by the free end of the door 6 asthe latter is moved inward, and when 6o the door is raised to itshighest position it will be moved up free of the trigger and fall uponthe same when released and be thereby retained in its open positionuntil the trigger is drawn inward by the weight of the animal on theplatform 9 in his endeavor to eat the bait, and when the door isreleased it will fall of its own weight into its closed position inframe 6a and prevent any possibility of its being opened by the animal.The 7o partition 2, above referred to, is composed, preferably, of wirenetting or mesh and is curved at one end, as shown, forming a passagefrom the entrance chamber into the cage and is bent vertically to form ahousing 12 to receive the free end of a door 13. The door 13 is hingedt0 one side of the casing and when in its closed position is disposed atan incline to the entrance and has connected to its upper edge one endof a spring 141, the 8o other end of said spring being secured to thetop of the cage and adapted to hold the door 13 in its closed position;but owing to the inoline of the door any pressure of an animalthereagainst from the entrance-chamber will open it and permit theanimal to pass into the cage, the door springing shut after the animaland preventing any possibility of his return. The door 13 has securedthereto an arm 15, which when the door is swung open 9o is moved againstthe door 6 and raises the latter until it is engaged by the trigger.Thus it will be seen that when an animal passes from theentrance-chamber into the cage the mere opening of the door 13 serves toopen 95 the door 6 and set the trap for the next victim.

The operation of my improvements is as follows: The animal, scenting thebait, enters the entrance-chamber and in his endeavors to eat the baittreads upon platform 9, thus 10o operating trigger 9a to release door 6and permit it to fall to its closed position, and the animal findinghimself caught endeavors to escape and presses against door 13, whichreadily yielding to his pressure he rushes through into the cage only toiind himself securely caught, for he cannot return through the door. Theopening of door 13 by the animal brings the arm 15 against door 6 andopens it to be caught by the trigger 9a, and the trap is again set.

Various slight changes might be resorted to in the general form andarrangement of the several parts described Without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understoodthat I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, butconsider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterationsas fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v In a trap, the combination with areceptaele, a partition in said receptacle dividing it into anentranee-chamber and a cage, a door for the entrance-Chamber, a triggerfor holding said door open, and a platform in the entrance-chamber forreleasing the trigger, of a door between the entrance-chamber and cage,a spring for normally holding said door closed, an arm on the hingededge ofthe lastmentioned door to open the first-mentioned door When thelast-mentioned door is opened by the animal, and said partition bent toreceive the free end of the door to prevent its being opened from thecage.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftWo subscribing Witnesses.

ORLANDO HUFFM AN.

Witnesses:

JACOB AUCH, W. A. Rentner.

